| Wabash River Project |
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NUTRIENTS AND CONTINUOUS MONITORING PROGRAM The Wabash River has been identified as one of the largest contributors of nitrogen to the Gulf of Mexico and the zone of hypoxia. In addition, the Wabash River enters the Ohio River at the upstream end of the Smithland Pool. The Smithland Pool has experienced lower dissolved oxygen levels in recent years and has been designated as impaired in ORSANCO’s 2008 Assessment of Water Quality Conditions, and previous sampling in the Smithland Pool indicates the Wabash River may be a significant contributor to the problem.
Under a grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, ORSANCO is engaged in a study of the output from the Wabash River. The initial period of this project began in July 2010 and ended in September 2011. The project was reauthorized for an additional 3 years beginning in January 2012. Project Report July 2010-September 2011
The study has two objectives: 1. Estimate the total annual load of total nitrogen and total phosphorous exiting the Wabash River. 2. Determine the Wabash River’s contribution and causes of low dissolved oxygen in the Smithland Pool of the Ohio River. To accomplish these goals, ORSANCO has datasondes located on the Wabash River at New Harmony, on the Ohio River at J.T. Myers Locks and Dam (the upstream end of the Smithland Pool), and on the Ohio River at Smithland Locks and Dam (the downstream end of the Smithland Pool). These datasondes measure temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and chlorophyll a. Data from the Wabash River sonde will be accessed remotely and is available on a daily basis. Data from the Ohio River sondes will be downloaded manually and is available every two weeks. In addition, water samples will be collected every two weeks from the Wabash River at New Harmony, and on the Ohio River at J.T. Myers Locks and Dam. These samples will be analyzed for total phosphorus, ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, total suspended sediments, biological oxygen demand, and phytoplankton. This data will be available as it is analyzed by the laboratories.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a gaging station on the Wabash River at New Harmony, Indiana. Click here to see the current river level and for historic data.
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